Chapter 74
Reunion and Battle Once Again (3)
A suffocating silence fell over the area, heavy as though a crushing veil had been cast upon everyone's chests. Not a single sound could be heard— even the breaths of those present seemed to halt in reverence to that moment.
Had a needle fallen to the ground then, its impact would have echoed loudly in everyone's ears without exception.
That was the stillness of the scene… the calm before the storm.
All eyes were fixed on the dense cloud of dust that covered the battlefield, where the two monsters clashed.
Slowly… the dust began to clear.
Arthur appeared.
He stood atop Yoo Joonghyuk's body.
Arthur's sword was halted by Yoo Joonghyuk's right hand, while Yoo Joonghyuk's sword had driven toward Arthur's waist—only to be stopped in turn by Arthur's hand.
Blades and hands locked together.
Blood flowed heavily from their grips, spilling and dripping onto the ground as if declaring the ferocity of their clash.
Arthur smiled calmly—an unnatural calm, unfitting for a battlefield.
Then, slowly, he raised his foot, intending to crush Yoo Joonghyuk's head.
But in that instant, Yoo Joonghyuk slammed his head backward against the ground, using the momentum to propel himself up in a flash.
Arthur's sword was released. Yoo Joonghyuk's sword was released.
The two separated, stepping back.
Yoo Joonghyuk spoke in his usual cold arrogance:
"Why do you want to kill me, weakling?"
Arthur replied in a steady voice, carrying a tone of cold wisdom:
"They say… the one who makes you angry becomes your master."
Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed sharply.
"Then why are you angry?"
A faint smile appeared on Arthur's lips.
"I think that saying is complete nonsense. I mean… what kind of person would I be if I didn't get angry at someone who tried to kill me?"
Then his tone shifted abruptly, cruelty flooding his voice:
"Damn it… I'll kill you now."
Arthur gathered all his energy into his right hand.
He knew very well that his current strength was still below Yoo Joonghyuk's, so he made his decision without hesitation:
One attack… everything in it… and to hell with the rest.
Yoo Joonghyuk noticed immediately.
He planted his feet firmly and gripped his sword tightly. An immense energy surged from his body, gathering around his blade, radiating a majestic light.
He spoke with deadly coldness:
"Fine… let's end this nonsense once and for all."
Arthur roared and launched forward at incredible speed.
He swung his sword with unbelievable force—so much so that even the air itself trembled.
Constellation messages poured in endlessly:
{The constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire cheers you on and hopes for your victory}
{The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband clutches his hair in excitement}
{The constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon salutes your foolish courage}
{The constellation Secretive Plotter watches the battle with shining eyes}
{The constellation Miraculous Narrator is thrilled by your magnificent fight and encourages your reckless plan}
In the next moment—
The blades collided.
Sword against sword.
Power against power.
A terrifying shockwave erupted from the point of impact, violently pushing the air away.
Arthur felt the crushing pressure of Yoo Joonghyuk's strength bearing down on his sword and body.
Yoo Joonghyuk was still stronger than him… in nearly every stat.
But in that moment—
Arthur smiled.
A demonic smile.
And he let go of his sword.
Just like that… he dropped it.
Yoo Joonghyuk's blade pierced through Arthur's final defense and sank into his body.
Blood burst forth like a crimson fountain as Arthur received the blow without resistance.
The strike tore through him from shoulder to waist—only a step away from splitting him in two.
The blade sank deep… incredibly deep.
Everyone was shocked.
Even the constellations could not hide their astonishment at what seemed like a foolish act.
But there was one person who felt the true danger in that moment—
And it wasn't Arthur.
It was Yoo Joonghyuk.
Arthur smiled as he looked at him, then raised his hand toward a blind spot in Yoo Joonghyuk's body.
In his hand… something small, gleaming, sharp as death.
His hand moved swiftly.
The bone dagger pierced into Yoo Joonghyuk's spine.
A horrifying cracking sound echoed.
Both of them fell to the ground.
Yoo Joonghyuk's sword remained embedded in Arthur's chest,
And Arthur's dagger remained lodged in Yoo Joonghyuk's back.
Yoo Joonghyuk spoke in pain, anger in his voice:
"A wound… for a life?"
Arthur replied with a calm smile:
"This plan has always worked against arrogant bastards like you."
Arthur slowly stood up.
He took out a small vial, placed it in his mouth, then grabbed the sword hilt and pulled it out of his body.
At the same moment, he clutched himself tightly and swallowed the contents of the vial.
Without it… his organs would have collapsed.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
The wound closed.
The blood vanished.
His body was completely healed.
Arthur looked at Yoo Joonghyuk with sharp eyes and said:
"Did you think I'd let you kill me… for the sake of a small wound in your back?"
Yoo Joonghyuk's expression turned into pure shock.
"…."
Arthur continued calmly:
"Yes. I fought you knowing I would survive, you arrogant bastard."
Arthur placed his mask back on his face, then turned to everyone.
Their faces were pale, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Even the constellations… had fallen silent.
No one knew what to focus on:
Arthur's strength in only the second scenario?
His survival after having his body destroyed days ago?
His cunning?
His instant recovery?
Or his defeat of the strongest man in this ruined world?
Arthur smiled quietly, then bent down and grabbed Yoo Joonghyuk by the hand, pulling him up with difficulty.
"Damn, man… you're heavy."
Then Yoo Joonghyuk's pained voice sounded, laced with sarcasm:
"And who's the bastard that broke my spine?"
"Say whatever you want… you're the idiot who almost killed me before."
Yoo Joonghyuk replied coldly, a deadly edge beneath his tone:
"If I had known you were still alive back then, I would've returned and severed your head without hesitation."
Arthur let out a short laugh—devoid of joy.
"Damn you… you really are a monster. A demon."
Yoo Joonghyuk answered calmly, his words heavier than steel:
"And I'm the demon who took a full blade into his body… just to stab his enemy."
The two exchanged words with cold sarcasm, as if the battle that had nearly destroyed the area moments ago had never happened.
If the previous scene hadn't been enough to shatter the minds of those present, this moment did so mercilessly.
Two monsters who had clashed like demons, shattering earth and air…
And now they stood, speaking as though they were old friends reunited after a long separation.
But the truth was deeper than that.
Both Arthur and Yoo Joonghyuk knew, deep down, that neither truly wanted to kill the other.
Even at the peak of Arthur's anger, his killing intent had never been released.
His goal had been clear… defeat, not annihilation.
And during his conversations with Kim Dokja, Arthur had come to understand certain truths about Yoo Joonghyuk.
He hadn't been told everything, but what he knew was enough to realize that this man…
might be the last hope of this shattered world.
And above all—
This world was not Arthur's.
He didn't know when he would leave it… or if he ever would.
From the beginning, he had abandoned the idea of killing Yoo Joonghyuk—
But he had never abandoned the idea of defeating him.
And now, with that defeat achieved, everything returned to its place.
No one knew…
But in that moment of defeat, Arthur was not the only one who had exhaled and released his anger.
Even Yoo Joonghyuk felt something strange stirring within him—
A feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time…
As if something had finally opened in his heart toward this miserable world.
In the past, he killed first… and never asked questions.
But after his battle with Arthur, something within him softened—even if only slightly.
In this fight—
There wasn't just one winner.
Both of them…
had taken from each other something that this cruel world had never been able to take.
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